Paced by freshman Iliska Verwey's two-over par 74 in the first round, the 31st-ranked Georgia State University women's golf team sits in second after the first day of the America's Choice Mortgage Lady Jaguar Invitational in Augusta on Saturday,

Verwey finished her first round in third and sits two strokes off the lead and the Panthers shot a team score of 304 (+16) and trail only in-state rival and host Augusta State, who is ranked 37th nationally, by two strokes.

“We were in a position to finish with the lead, but we had trouble closing and added some strokes to our score,” said Georgia State head coach Cathy Mant. “Our girls haven't had any practice this year on Bermuda Grass greens and it affected our putting. But, with one day of experience under our belt, I think things are going to go great tomorrow. We're in second but we right on their back, so we're going to put on the pressure tomorrow and go for it.”

Every member of the Georgia State squad currently sit in the top-10 overall among a field of 29, but Augusta State has four players in the top-five overall to hold the lead on their home course, Forest Hills Golf Club, a par-72 6.123-yard design.

In addition to Verwey's third-place showing, junior Claire Starkie is tied for fifth after first-round score of 76 (+4) and Cathrine Madsen, Sandra Maier and Anna Scott all are tied for eighth after first-round scores of 77 (+5). Georgia State sophomore Nicole Loesch and freshman Cheriston Brett are competing in the event as individuals.

Georgia State and Augusta State have a recent history of competitive play and the Panthers are the defending champions of the Lady Jaguar Invitational, where they defeated Augusta State by nine strokes after consecutive rounds of 303. In 2006, the Lady Jaguars won the Panthers' home tournament, the John Kirk/Panther Intercollegiate, but Georgia State finished ahead of their in-state competition in the 2007 edition.

The second and final round of play at Forest Hills Golf Club in Augusta will begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday and live scoring can be found at GolfStat.com. Updates will follow the conclusion of competition and can be found at GeorgiaStateSports.com.


Team Standings

1 Augusta State, 302, +14
2 Georgia State, 304, +16
3 Mercer, 320, +32
4 Wofford, 325, +37
5 Kennesaw State, 330, +45


Georgia State Individual Standings

3 Iliska Verwey, 74, +2
T-5 Claire Starkie, 76, +4
T-8 Cathrine Madsen, 77, +5
T-8 Sandra Maier, 77, +5
T-8 Anna Scott, 77, +5
*T-24 Nicole Loesch, 86, +14
*28 Cherishton Brett, 91, +19

? Individual Competitor